Neymar picks Cristiano Ronaldo as Ballon d’Or award favorite

Eventual victor Lionel Messi and his Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez were pitted against Real Madrid’s goal machine Cristiano Ronaldo, and it looks likely to be a similar situation this time around.

Barcelona attacker Neymar believes Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is sitting in pole position to win the FIFA Ballon d’Or following his successful 2016. Even though the announcement of the award is more than six months away, Neymar revealed that the Portuguese worldwide is in the best position to win the award after winning two major trophies in the season.

The 24-year-old said winning titles plays an important role for Ballon d’Or glory and, therefore, Ronaldo is the frontrunner to lift the prestigious individual trophy.

“I have a good relationship with him”.

In an interview released on Saturday by Portuguese newspaper Expresso, Pepe explained that Ronaldo “welcomes new players very well” and treats everyone equally and helped create “a family atmosphere”, reports Efe. “I have no qualms in saying that”.

Lionel Messi now holds the Ballon d’Or from 2015 and despite winning La Liga with Barcelona and reaching the Copa America final with Argentina, Neymar believes he will miss out this time. Recently after the loss in the finals, France forward Antoine Griezmann also claimed that it will be Ronaldo who will win the next Ballon d’Or.